Seven Months in Uganda: Group fun

Monday, June 9th:
Happy Hero’s Day. The schools have the day off, so I’m at home taking care of some things I would have done this weekend had I been around. I really like being on placement lately.

Last weekend involved a lot of socializing and going out to eat. We had a going-away get-together for Darcy on Saturday at the campsite. It’s really sad to see her go but we had a fun time partying as a group. The first half of Saturday was frustrating; I spent a long time in the internet café watching my connection go out every time I had almost loaded something, and being caught in the middle of conversations between the new batch of AVs in town. If anyone doing Africa Venture reads this, or if your little sister is in it or something, I’m sorry. But they are terrible. AV is a gap-year company that sends rich British 18-year-olds into Uganda to terrorize Jinja in beachwear and annoy everyone. As far as I can tell, anyway. They also work in schools so they get compared to SPW a lot, which we all enjoy. It was a rainy and crappy afternoon, but by the time we got to the campsite everyone was ready to have a good time and we had a really fun last night with Darce.

On Sunday a bunch of us went to the Lubani placement, where Jack had organized a community football tournament. It was pretty impressive! Sixteen teams had signed up, including one made up of SPW volunteers. I didn’t stay until the finals but did have a really good time seeing the games, people-watching, and listening to impromptu karaoke over the PA system. It was Jack’s birthday and he had bought a goat for us to feast on in the evening – it was delicious! Thanks Jack! The prize for the winning team was also a goat.

We’re within two months now. Time’s ticking.

Also: if anyone is planning to send post while I’m out here, try to do it in the next week or so – some things take about six weeks to get out here, and I won’t be getting things from the office the last week I’m here.

It’s back to the office tomorrow. I think we have been averaging two trips a week since mid-placement training. Dance4Life is coming to two more of our schools this Thursday, so I have to pick up some materials for that and – fingers crossed – actually get the money for our proposals that have been lost three times now. Lucy and Wilber have a model farm visit with the women’s group tomorrow. It should be a hit!

We’ll miss you, Darcy!